Amazon is about to spend $1 billion to buy Twitch, a service that lets people watch live streams of other people playing video games, according to technology-news site The Information.
Earlier this year Google was reported to be in talks to acquire Twitch for around the same price.
Twitch, which also lets people broadcast videos of themselves playing and streams professional video-game tournaments, makes money from advertising. The company says that more than 55 million people visit the site each month.
Twitch started as an offshoot of Justin.TV, a "lifecasting" site that began in 2005, according to Vulture. It has become wildly popular since it launched as a standalone site three years ago -- it's actually responsible for more Internet traffic than HBO Go, HBO's streaming video platform, according to Sandvine, a company that makes equipment for broadband networks.
Representatives from Amazon and Twitch did not immediately return requests for comment from The Huffington Post.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Earlier this year Google was reported to be in talks to acquire Twitch for around the same price.
Twitch, which also lets people broadcast videos of themselves playing and streams professional video-game tournaments, makes money from advertising. The company says that more than 55 million people visit the site each month.
Twitch started as an offshoot of Justin.TV, a "lifecasting" site that began in 2005, according to Vulture. It has become wildly popular since it launched as a standalone site three years ago -- it's actually responsible for more Internet traffic than HBO Go, HBO's streaming video platform, according to Sandvine, a company that makes equipment for broadband networks.
Representatives from Amazon and Twitch did not immediately return requests for comment from The Huffington Post.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.